Richard Henry Ling (43-46) died in Leighton Hospital, Crewe on May 26, 2020 from pneumonia aged 90. His brother John Ling writes:

“After Pangbourne, Richard went to sea in the Merchant Navy with the Shaw Savill & Albion Line that operated ships between the UK, Australia and New Zealand. He remained with the company for five years and left as a Third Officer when he was called up for National Service in the Royal Navy in 1952. During those two years in the Navy he served in the battleship HMS Vanguard, and on a frigate Loch Dunvegan which, he told me, was a very happy ship but with some unusual captains! 

Of his life at sea, Richard recalled being on the bridge of his first ship under the Shaw Savill flag – an ancient freighter with an open bridge. A North Atlantic crossing in the winter was always something to be remembered for some extremely cold watch-keeping. He found life on board Vanguard enjoyable and, with some seamanship under his belt, there was an early promotion to Sub-Lieutenant. He left Loch Dunvegan as a Lt and as First Officer.  

After National Service Richard came ashore and spent the rest of his working life in the paper industry, finishing as Managing Director of a company called Dolan Corrugated Cases based in Lancashire. He married Jill in 1955 and they had two daughters who survive him. 

For 12 years he cared for Jill after a stroke left her disabled and without speech. Following her death in 2015, he moved to smaller accommodation in Holmes Chapel, a large village in Cheshire. It was there that Richard became unwell. Throughout his life he was very interested in the education of the young, and spent many hours talking to primary school children about his experiences. He was a highly principled man, of great integrity and sense of duty, and his stoicism during his own illness was a source of some wonder.

On the day of his funeral, 300 people turned out on the pavements of Holmes Chapel to pay their respects as the hearse drove down the High Street. His contributions to the life of this Cheshire town were considerable. He became something of a local character who a lot of people knew, and who were helped by him in one way or another. Young and old alike.”